By Danjuma Auta
The newly created ECWA Jos Central District Church Council carved out of the former Jos DCC has been inaugurated with a call on the pioneer leaders of the new DCC to put in their best towards the growth and development of the DCC.
ECWA Vice President, Rev. (Dr) Stephen Sunday Ajise while performing the official inauguration of the DCC and the swearing in of the DCC officials reminded them that nothing short of the best was expected of them.
The cleric told them that ECWA in Plateau State has expanded and was growing extensively due to the “sacrificial commitments” of its founding fathers and members and admonished members of the DCC not to relent in taking the new DCC to enviable heights.
Said he: “Establishing more DCCs in and outside the shores of Nigeria was becoming a recurrent decimal due to the growth of membership and the need for strategic ways of advancing the work of the Great Commission.”
He described the growth of Jos DCC as “unprecedented,” hence the need to break it into units for smooth and effective leadership and called on members to see the creation of the new DCC as a way of ensuring the speedy spread of the gospel within and outside the state instead rather than creating leadership positions.
On how to ensure the success of the new DCC, the ECWA VP called on all members and Christians alike to join hands with the new leadership as they strive to effectively discharge their official duties.
In an exhortation, Rev. (Dr) Ajise who took scripture lessons from Matthew 11:25-30 tasked believers to practice what they preach and cautioned against lifestyles that are not Christlike.
He stated that Christlikeness can only be replicated by living what they profess and doing the same.
“Let what we preach be the same with what we are doing.”
While reiterating his call to the new leadership to positively influence the people with conducts as according to him, God has chosen them to do what is only honorable to His kingdom, Rev. Ajise cautioned fellowship groups and leaders under the new DCC to be careful when it comes to asset sharing to guard against needless conflict because all belong to God and ECWA.
Jos DCC Chairman, Rev. Dr. Fidelis Barry, thanked God for the creation of another DCC and commended the General Church Council and the ECWA executive for the approval which became a reality during his tenure as Chairman.
While acknowledging the support of the various groups, Rev. Barry said the dream of a new DCC out of the former Jos DCC wouldn’t have come through without the support of fellowship groups and church members and called on them to accord more support to the new DCC to grow.
On some of the needs of the new DCC, the cleric listed office space, accommodation for the Chairman and Secretary, mobility and office furniture as some of the challenges facing the new DCC.
In a goodwill message, ECWA Trustee representing Zone 5, Rev. Prof. Musa Gaiya called on the new DCC officials to humble themselves for God to exalt them as according to him, whoever does not listen to God stands the chance of being disgraced.
Prof. Gaiya announced that plans are on to ensure that pastors working in the church are well taken care of.
Responding, on behalf of the DCC leadership, Chairman, Jos Central DCC, Rev. Bitrus Ajang Yaro, thanked the ECWA leadership for making their dream a reality and assured that as pioneer leaders of the DCC, they would do everything within their powers to ensure that the mission and vision of the new DCC were achieved
He called on members of the new DCC to intensify efforts to ensure that the needs of the DCC were met as soon as possible to enable the DCC to move to a permanent site.